November 30, 2017 … Brokenness to Wholeness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 334 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video from the group Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing their song … He’ll Do Whatever It Takes … poignantly singing of how our God will do whatever it takes to bring our brokenness into the wholeness of His image.

"Wakeari" Cookies in Japan 

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 7:47-48 [NLT] … 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 
… And aren’t we who’ve been forgiven, like this woman, grateful for Jesus’ mercy and grace on sinners such as we?
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 7:36-50 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… When we’re willing to surrender our brokenness to Jesus, He can forgive us and make us whole again in His image.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 5:8 [NLT] … 8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 
… Christ came to save the broken and remake them into His own image.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 1:6 [NLT] … 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 
… And we can be assured that our Lord is going to do whatever it takes to make us over in His image in glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Albert Lee, paints a word picture of our brokenness and how our Lord can - and will - redeem us from our sin, making us over into His image of wholeness. The ODB author wrote: In Japan, food products are immaculately prepared and packaged. Not only must they taste good but they must look good too. Often I wonder if I am purchasing the food or the packaging! Because of the Japanese emphasis on good quality, products with slight defects are often discarded. However, in recent years wakeari products have gained popularity. Wakeari means “there is a reason” in Japanese. These products are not thrown away but are sold at a cheap price “for a reason”—for example, a crack in a rice cracker. 

Sometimes, as I read and meditate on these ODB entries each morning to start my day, some of them will really strike a chord of reality within me; and this one most certainly does. You see, like the “wakeari” products in Japan, (e.g., the broken cookies in the photo), I was once a broken man, lost in my own sinfulness. But Jesus, just as He did with the broken/sinner woman in Luke 7, was willing to come after me and save me from my own brokenness, … forgiving my sinfulness and beginning the process of remaking me into the wholeness and perfection of His own image.

Oh, … He’s not done with me yet, … for sure! But as the linked song proclaims, my Lord will do “whatever it takes” to complete the process of my redemption (see also Phil. 1:6). And when He’s done with me in glory, I’m going to be completely whole and have a beauty and usefulness akin to His. And I hope you share a robust HALLELUJAH!!! with me as He remakes you in His images as well.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, Lord, praise your willingness to take me as I was and give me a “redo” to be with You in eternity. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 29, 2017 … Empathy Power

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 333 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Elvis Presley singing a Joe South song … Walk A Mile In My Shoes … powerfully singing about the power of true empathy to overcome our selfishness and to reach out to feel the pain of others.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Hebrews 13:3 [NLT] … 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. 
… He gave his own body so that we could identify with His sacrifice and give ours for others as He did.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Hebrews 2:14-18, 13:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God becoming flesh so that he could die in perfect empathy to save mankind from our own flesh. 
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st Corinthians 12:25-26 [NLT] … 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 
… Christ’s Body - the Church - has been created in His image that we can fully empathize with all the members of the body to serve each other for His glory.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:3-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… His divine empathy so that we can empathize as He did with us and reach out help others.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, uses a scientific invention, the “R70i Aging Suit” [see photo] to show how younger people can fully empathize with the conditions of the aged. The ODB author wrote: Put on the R70i Age Suit and you immediately feel forty years older as you experience impaired vision, hearing loss, and reduced mobility. The Age Suit was designed to help caregivers better understand their patients. Wall Street Journal correspondent Geoffrey Fowler wore one and wrote, “The unforgettable, and at times distressing, experience shed light not just on aging, but also how virtual reality equipment can teach empathy and shape our perceptions of the world around us.” Empathy is the power to understand and share the feelings of another. 

This is a fascinating scientific word picture of what Jesus did in becoming fully human and walking among His created humans like a slave to show His Body (the Church) how to empathize with one another in order to live for each other.

That’s why, as we read in the NT (see Scriptures above), when one member of Christ’s body hurts, the other members should hurt as well. And that’s why we can - and should - be able to serve other Christians - with Spirit-empowered empathy - instead of holding on to our own selfish desires.

The questions arise from this study … “Are we?” … AND … “Will we?”

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help me to discern the needs of others and to be able to walk a mile in their shoes, reaching out to help them when I see them in need. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 28, 2017 … Fill our Sails, Lord!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 332 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Josh Groban singing … You Raise Me Up … poignantly singing about how our God raises us up with the power of His grace to overcome the weaknesses in our humanity.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Amos 4:13a [NLT] … 13 For the Lord is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals His thoughts to mankind. 
… It is God’s empowering grace which sustains us.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Amos 4:12-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s Prophet reminds His people of God’s creative and sustaining power.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 3:8 [NLT] … 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” 
… Jesus teaches Nicodemus, and reminds us, that God’s Spirit is the power which saves and sustains us.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 15:5-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches His disciples that He is our sustainer and our power; and apart from Him, we can do NOTHING!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 12:9 [NLT] … 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 
… Jesus reminds Paul and us of His power to give us strength in our weakness.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, uses a personal reflection of how windsurfing (see photo) is a picture of God’s empowering grace working to give us God’s power when we are weak in our humanity. The ODB author wrote: One day by the seaside, I delighted in watching some kite surfers as they bounced along the water, moved by the force of the wind. When one came to shore, I asked him if the experience was as difficult as it looked. “No,” he said, “It’s actually easier than regular surfing because you harness the power of the wind.” 
Afterward as I walked by the sea, thinking about the wind’s ability not only to propel the surfers but also to whip my hair into my face, I paused to wonder at our God the Creator. 

A powerful wind filling the sails of a windsurfer, or allowing golfers to hit the ball much farther than they are capable, are good pictures of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers doing what Josh Groban sings in the linked song; … i.e., to lift us up and give us the power the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2Cor. 12:9 … to give us strength when we are naturally weak.

I will pray this morning that all reading here are experiencing the energizing wind of God’s Spirit, empowering us to move way beyond our natural selves and to blow with Spirit-power to show others the power of God in our lives.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Fill our sails, Lord, and blow us strongly where You want us to go! … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 27, 2017 … Our “Make-over” in Christ

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 331 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Chris McClarney singing … Beauty for Ashes … poignantly singing about how our God is willing to make us over from the ashes of death into the beauty of life.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 6:4 [NLT] … 11 When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. … [Ordering the Priests] … 13 “Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.” 
… Josiah recognized that repentance and renewal were needed to follow God’s ways. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2 Kings 22:1-4, 8-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Josiah, the young King of God’s people, recognizes that the Israelites needed a “do-over” to follow God’s will and His ways from His word.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.” 
… Jesus commands His disciples to change from selfishness to “Saviorness”

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:15- 17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … … Christians must realize that we are new in Christ, made-over by our repentance and surrender to the One Who made the do-over possible by His death on the cross.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 1:6 [NLT] … 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 
… The truth about God doing a complete make-over of our character into that of Christlikeness.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, writes about an adoption where doing things over changed everything for their new son (see photo). The ODB author wrote: When we brought our adoptive son home from overseas, I was eager to shower him with love and provide what he had lacked over the preceding months, especially quality food, since he had a nutritional deficit. But despite our best efforts, including consulting specialists, he grew very little. After nearly three years, we learned he had some severe food intolerances. After removing those items from his diet, he grew five inches in just a few months. While I grieved at how long I’d unwittingly fed him foods that impaired his growth, I rejoiced at this surge in his health! 

When I became a Christian over 3 decades ago, I came to recognize that I needed some serious repentance and a “do-over” from the way I had lived, sinfully and selfishly, to the way commanded by Jesus in Luke 9:23. And the remainder of my life has been a fulfillment of God’s promise (from 2Cor. 5:17 and Phil. 1:6), a “make-over” from my former selfishness into a character much more like my Savior Jesus.

And I pray we all know that this is a life-long process which will only be completed when we’re with Jesus in glory. So, PTL for His willingness to give us this “do-over” and to become more like our Lord today than yesterday and even more tomorrow than today.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help me, Lord, to surrender to You today for Your complete make-over into Your image. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 26, 2017 … God Sees!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 330 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of Jim Rice of the group Brush Arbor singing … Hello God … poignantly singing about the best gift we can give to God … our surrender to Him … and … THEN TO THIS LINK  another song of surrender, sung by Brian Littrell … about the greatest gift we can give to God … our all!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 6:4 [NLT] … 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 
… Our Heavenly Father always know what we give … and WHY!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 6:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus saw the Jewish leaders making a show of their giving; … so, in His sermon on the mount He preached on making our giving between us and God … and only for HIS glory.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Malachi 3:6-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God instructs and challenges His people on obedient and faithful giving, with His promise to give back to the faithful more than they can imagine.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:9-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, instructs His faithful to give the best part of our increase to Him; and in response he pour out more than we need.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 9:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God always knows why we give to/for Him … and He loves a cheerful, sacrificial giver.

 My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Leslie Koh, writes about a church member who felt unappreciated for the time/service she was providing to a member. The ODB author wrote: When Denise met a hurting young woman in her church, her heart went out to her and she decided to see if she could help. Every week she spent time counseling her and praying with her. Denise became her mentor. However, some church leaders didn’t notice Denise’s efforts and decided to assign a church staff member to mentor the woman. No one, they commented, seemed to be taking care of her. 
While she was not expecting any credit, Denise couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged. “It’s as if I wasn’t doing anything at all,” she told me. 
One day, however, the young woman told Denise how grateful she was for her comfort. Denise felt encouraged. It was as if God was telling her, “I know you’re there for her.” Denise still meets with the woman regularly. 

Perhaps someone reading here has felt like no one noticed the time or services that you were providing to others, maybe in the church as in the ODB example. But if you’ve given God your best gift - and that is yourself - you can be sure, from the promises from God about giving above, that our Heavenly Father, not only sees what we’re giving but He knows that heart behind the gift.

And that’s the only recognition we need, isn’t it?

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Please take all of me, Lord! … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 25, 2017 … Being Like Jesus

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 329 

Devotional Song: …  GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from some anonymous children singing … I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus … Joyfully singing a challenge for all Christians to be like and live like Jesus in a world that needs His love desperately.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Peter 3:8 [NLT] … 8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. 
… How Christians are exhorted to live together and love one another.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st Peter 2:11-17, 3:8-9, 5:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Peter, exhorts fellow Christians to live humbly and serve others as Christ served (and serves) His Bride, the Church, … as a humble slave.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Matthew 11:28-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus said He was humble and meek. So, if we’re to be like Him, those are qualities we should strive to become.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 13:1-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus modeled how He expected His disciples to live in humility by washing their feet just before He went to the cross for them [and us].

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 10:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul showed how he desired desperately to have the attitude of Christ in dealing with his fellow Christians - to remain humble and kind.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, teaches on how we, as disciples of Christ, must have the same attitude as our Lord … and that is one of humility.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Elisa Morgan, writes about a humble law enforcement officer to illustrate the humility we must have in dealing with one another, … just as Christ modeled for us. The ODB author wrote: When asked to define his role in a community that was sometimes uncooperative with law enforcement, a sheriff didn’t flash his badge or respond with the rank of his office. Rather he offered, “We are human beings who work with human beings in crisis.” His humility—his stated equality with his fellow human beings—reminds me of Peter’s words [in 1Peter 3:8 - today’s highlight passage].

[See the highlight passages from 1st Peter 2, 3, and 5 linked above] ...
The Apostle Peter knew how much the Christians in Asia Minor were being oppressed and persecuted in his day; and in response he tried to write to them and help them treat each other - and even their oppressors - as Jesus had modeled and taught when He walked this earth (see Matt. 11:28 and John 13 linked above).

That story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in John 13 [see photo] is one of my favorites to illustrate a quality Jesus modeled for His inner 12 disciples and later ones like Paul. He called Himself “humble and meek” (see Matt. 11:29). And most certainly, … Peter and Paul, in their letters, exhorted all Christians to do all we can to take on Christlike humility (Phil. 2:5 and the highlight passages), and treat each other with a servant’s attitude and actions.

Oh, dear one, … how I desire to be like Jesus - as the linked song so pointedly sings; and perhaps today God will give me an opportunity to show off my best Jesus impression of honest humility, serving and helping others just as He would.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Let me wash some feet today for Your glory! … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 24, 2017 … The Love Hole

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 328 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from the group Avalon singing … Everything To Me … poignantly singing of the only way we can fill the hole planted in our hearts which only the love of God can fill.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ecclesiastes 3:11 [NLT] … 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 
… Solomon discovered that God has planted a void in the heart of everyone that only He will be able to fill with His love.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ecclesiastes 3:9-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King Solomon relates what God revealed to him over years trying to fill the King’s heart with the world’s pleasures and power, which he found to be nothing but vanity.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 4:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 3  You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for Himself. The Lord will answer when I call to Him. 
… King David knew that only God could satisfy the longings of His heart.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. 
… God planted the desire in all of us to give ALL our hearts to/for Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David H Roper, used a story about the inbred drive his dog had, illustrating how God has placed in all of us an inbred desire to seek after a deep and abiding relationship with our Lord. The ODB author wrote: We had a West Highland Terrier for a number of years. “Westies” are tough little dogs, bred to tunnel into badger holes and engage the “enemy” in its lair. Our Westie was many generations removed from her origins, but she still retained that instinct, put into her through years of breeding. On one occasion she became obsessed by some “critter” under a rock in our backyard. Nothing could dissuade her. She dug and dug until she tunneled several feet under the rock. 
Now consider this question: Why do we as humans pursue, pursue, pursue? Why must we climb unclimbed mountains, ski near-vertical slopes? Run the most difficult and dangerous rapids, challenge the forces of nature? Part of it is a desire for adventure and enjoyment, but it’s much more. It’s an instinct for God that has been implanted in us. We cannot not want to find God. 

I call it ”the love hole.”

God has put it in the hearts for all of us; and only the pursuit of and the filling of His love can fill that hole in our hearts. C.S. Lewis put it like this: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” But because of the fall of mankind and our inherited sinfulness, we sinful creatures are driven to try to fill God’s love hole with so many false and empty pursuits.

For many years, I, for one, tried to fill my love hole with various illicit lust-driven pursuits or with gluttonous eating habits. Others try to fill the emptiness in their hearts with chemical substances, gambling, or the pursuit of power or pleasure. But as Kings David and Solomon discovered (see Scriptures above), only our God can satisfy the longings of our souls and fill up that hole in our hearts with His love.

I pray that all here have discovered that pursing a deep and abiding love relationship with our Lord is the only way to fill up that love-hole in our hearts.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, I come here to fill up my love hole with my pursuit of Your love daily. And You do so fill me with Yourself to overflowing. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 23, 2017 … A Grateful Heart

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 327 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Dennis Jernigan leading in worship and singing his song … Thank You Lord … as we Christians gather to celebrate our thankfulness for all the blessings bestowed by God … AND THEN TO THIS LINK to hear Laura Story singing her song Blessings, helping us to keep the concept of “BLESSINGS” in God’s perspective rather than from our selfish desires.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 17:15-16 [NLT] … 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 
… The Samaritan with a grateful heart praises His Lord in faith.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 17:11-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus heals 10 Lepers; but only one comes back in gratefulness to praise the Lord. 
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Exodus 23:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… In Jewish tradition, after the harvest, the “Festival of the Harvest” or also called “The Festival of Weeks,” or today called “Pentecost” or “Sukkot,” celebrated traditionally 50 days after Passover to give the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple and express thankfulness to Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. And that’s the day when God sent the Holy Spirit after Christ’s resurrection to dwell in the hearts of believers in Christ [see Acts 2:1] - certainly giving all Christians something for which to be grateful … FOREVER!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, used the biblical story of God instituting, thru Moses, the “Festival of the Harvest” described above in Exodus 23:16 described above. The ODB author wrote: Several thousand years ago, God spoke directly to Moses and instituted a new festival for His people. In Exodus 23:16, according to Moses’s record, God said, “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.” 

But we Christians, on this day we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the U.S., have so much more to celebrate in the context of our gratefulness than God’s people in the OT, because on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection [again see Acts 2:1], God sent His Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus, to indwell the hearts of all true, born-again, believers. Wow! Do I sense a sincere “PTL!!!” 

And hopefully we can be like the one in ten who came back to Jesus (see Luke 17:11-17) with a heart of worship and gratefulness, thanking Jesus for what he had done to heal the leprous Samaritan. Because God blesses those with grateful hearts for all He has done to save us.

Therefore, … I for one express my strong HALLELUJAH [!!!] today, feeling so deeply grateful for what my Lord did on the cross, making all His other blessings in my life, which are myriad, pale by comparison.

And so, as we partake of our traditional day of thankfulness, let us take in the meaning of the two linked songs above, especially remembering that many of God’s blessings, as Laura Story sings, come in the challenges of life. And so, as Dennis Jernigan sings, let us truly have grateful hearts, thanking God for all the blessings He has brought into our lives.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, Lord, thank You!!! … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 22, 2017 … Joyous Praise and Worship

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 326 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from the group Hillsong singing their song … Sing to the Lord … Poignantly singing of how we Christians should sing and pray to God every day our joyous praises for His holiness and glory … AND THEN TO THIS LINK to hear Laurie Klein singing I Love You Lord, expressing what should be our everyday attitude of joy and worship in the way we live for God’s glory.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 98:4 [NLT] … 4 Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! 
… This should be our 24/7 attitude of joy and praise.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 98 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David sings of God’s wondrous holiness, His justice, and His providence … calling for our continuous worship and praise.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 30:11-12, 100:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Songs of how we ALL should praise and worship our God … EVERYDAY and in EVERY WAY we live !!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Linda Washington, used a story of her own personal worship in church to illustrate our lives should worship our Lord. The ODB author wrote: Back when I was searching for a church to attend regularly, a friend invited me to a service at her church. The worship leaders led the congregation in a song I particularly loved. So I sang with gusto, remembering my college choir director’s advice to “Project!” 
After the song, my friend’s husband turned to me and said, “You really sang loud.” This remark was not intended as a compliment! After that, I self-consciously monitored my singing, making sure I sang softer than those around me and always wondering if the people around me judged my singing. 
But one Sunday, I noticed the singing of a woman in the pew beside me. She seemed to sing with adoration, without a trace of self-consciousness. 

How often do we let our worship and our praise be influenced by how we perceive others will judge us? And that’s not only singing in church, but also the way we live our lives, which is really our 24/7 worship of our Lord.  ... Too often, I think!

Today’s ODB and the Psalms to which I was led to study and meditate reminded me, as did Psalmists like David, that I need to come into each day [as I am today], praising my God for His holiness, His mercy, and His grace; and then we must live out our days in a way which worships our Lord with what we think, say, and do.

I’ve got the right attitude now as I’m writing this. But I will pray that the rest of my life today - and tomorrow - will worship my God by the way I live.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, Lord, how I want to live today with thoughts and deeds which worship you just as much as my prayers and songs do here this morning as I start my day with You. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 21, 2017 … Dying to Live

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 325 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from the The Gaither Vocal Band singing their song … He Touched Me … Poignantly singing of what Jesus does for all who surrender to His grace … to touch us and allow us to die to self so that we can live eternally with Him.

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 12:24 [NLT] … 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 
… Jesus’ word picture of death to life.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 12:23-33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus tells what it takes for His disciples to life forever … to die to themselves and be born again to eternal life.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 10:10 [NLT] … 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 
 … Jesus died that we might have abundant life.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Galatians 2:20 [NLT] … 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 
… God, our Heavenly Physician, gives His absolutely solid prescription for anxiety.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David McCasland, used a botanical word picture to teach on how our Lord had to die that we might live. The ODB author wrote: When our children were young, they loved trying to catch the “helicopter seeds” that fell from our neighbor’s silver maple trees. Each seed resembles a wing. In late spring they twirl to the ground like a helicopter’s rotor blades. The seeds’ purpose is not to fly, but to fall to earth and grow into trees. 

When I was a kid, in the fall of the year, as the maple tree leaves turned from green to amazing colors of red and yellow, we use to run down our street and catch those “helicopter seeds” [see photo] as they fluttered to earth. But we certainly didn’t see the picture that the ODB author was conveying above or the message that Jesus gave His disciples in the highlight passage from John 12.

He was trying to get across to them that He, the Messiah, would have to die so that they could live the abundant life which anyone in Christ can find when we die to self and are born-again into the abundant life He died to give us (see John 10:10 and Gal. 2:20).

So, I pray that all reading here have done just that; … that we have died to our selves and are now living the life that He died for us to have in Him. If not, I pray that we all die to self today and live for Him.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, Lord, how I want to live the abundant life which You died for me to have. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 20, 2017 … Stressed Out?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 324 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from the Maranatha Singers singing truth from our Savior … My Peace I Give Unto You … Poignantly singing Jesus’ promise to give us His peace.

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 14;27 [NLT] … 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. …” 
… A red letter promise of peace to all who would trust and believe in Him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 14:15-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus promises His disciples - and US TOO - His peace, … a peace that the world will never understand!!
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, challenges us to TRUST HIM for the way we are to go in life and to avoid leaning on our own feelings.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … 3 You (LORD) will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! 
… God, thru the Prophet, show us how to avoid stress … by focusing on HIM!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 
… God, our Heavenly Physician, gives His absolutely solid prescription for anxiety.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul teaches us how focusing on God’s truth - from His word - gives us all we need to handle the stresses of life.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David Roper, teaches on something we all experience - STRESS - and Jesus’ prescription for our dealing with anxiety. The ODB author wrote: We have an ancient cherry tree in our backyard that had seen better days and looked like it was dying, so I called in an arborist. He checked it out and declared that it was “unduly stressed” and needed immediate attention. “Take a number,” my wife, Carolyn, muttered to the tree as she walked away. It had been one of those weeks. 
Indeed, we all have anxious weeks—filled with worries over the direction our culture is drifting or concerns for our children, our marriages, our businesses, our finances, our personal health and well-being. 

Do I sense an “AMEN” to this last paragraph? ... Yeah, … if we all put a “stress meter” (see photo) on our lives, many of us would measure high on the scale, wouldn’t we? So, today, thru my focus on God’s truth - from this ODB entry and His word - I was reminded of God’s prescriptions for our handling the stresses of life. Four points [i.e., prescriptions] to take away from God’s promises and His truth today …
—>  Self focus … OR … Savior focus ?? (see Isaiah 26:3)
Do we find ourselves focusing on self a lot? If so, we’re taking our eyes off of the One we should be following. He said to follow Him (hope you have Luke 9:23 internalized!); and so, should we be surprised that trying to go it on our own leads to stress? I think not!!
—>  Question God … OR … Trust God ?? (see Prov. 3:5-6)
Again, … are we trying to lean too heavily on doing things or controlling things on our own? That’s a danger zone of selfishness!! … But if we can trust in God’s will and follow Him thru His word, He will lead us in His ways; and that’s the safest place we can be!
—>  Self disciplines … OR … Faith disciplines ?? (see Phil. 4:6-7)
All too often we try to develop our own “TO DO” list, with self directed habits, rather than becoming and being disciplined in such things as finding purpose through prayer and meditation on God’s word. What are our primary disciplines in life; … yoga or prayer? The former can be helpful, … the latter can be life-saving!
—>  Worldly influenced … OR … Godly influenced ?? (see 2Tim. 3:16-17)
Does taking in talk radio … or the daily news … or the lunch room gossip really help to reduce the stress in our lives? … DUH!! … I’m here every morning, starting my day, focusing on God truth to jump start my day in a way that ALWAYS gives me peace, joy, and His love. Pretty good prescription for stress reduction, wouldn’t you say?

Well, fellow Christian, you decide which focus you’d rather have … on stress or the Savior?! Personally I think it’s a no brainer!!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help any of us here, Lord, to take Your prescriptions for producing the peace that only You can give us. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 19, 2017 … His Masterpiece ??

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 323 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Matt Redman singing … Fearfully and Wonderfully Made … Poignantly singing of the reality of how God made us as His wondrous workmanship to His purposes and for His glory.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 139:13-14 [NLT] … 13  You made all the delicate, inner parts of my bod and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous— how well I know it. 
… Seeing ourselves as God’s masterpiece, … uniquely created for His glory.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 139:11-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David declares himself to be a masterpiece of God’s creation.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Ephesians 2:10 [NLT] … 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 
… He made us in such a special way for Himself.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] … 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
... And because I have surrendered myself to my Savior as my Lord, He is remaking me into a new man in His image.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 1:6 [NLT] … 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 
...  God, thru Paul, promises that He will complete us in His image when we are with Him in glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, used a personal word picture to show how we should cherish the reality of how we were created for God’s glory and for His workmanship. The ODB author wrote: My father creates custom quivers designed for archers to carry their arrows. [See photo] He carves elaborate pictures into pieces of genuine leather, before stitching the material together. 
During a visit, I watched him construct one of his works of art. His careful hands applied just the right pressure as he pressed a sharp blade into the supple leather, creating various textures. Then he dipped a rag into crimson dye and covered the leather with even strokes, magnifying the beauty of his creation. 
As I admired my dad’s confident craftsmanship, I realized how often I fail to acknowledge and appreciate my heavenly Father’s creativity manifested in others and even in myself. 

Let me cut right to the questions raised by this author and by the poignant song linked above [at least for me!]:    #1 Do we see ourselves as masterpieces, planned by God before we were in our mother’s womb, and created for His purposes and glory? … #2 Do we know that, in Christ, our God is making us over into His own image? … #3 Are we using His sanctifying grace for His glory … EVERY DAY?!

I, for one, struggle at times to see myself as God’s “masterpiece;” … but you find me here daily, diligently seeking to use His word and my prayers to become more of how my Lord desires to use me for His glory. And I would hope (and pray) that you’re here for the same purpose.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help any of us here, Lord, to become more of the “masterpiece” You created in us for Your glory. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 18, 2017 … You Can’t See Me!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 322 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from Jason Gray singing his song … Glow In The Dark …Joyfully singing of how we can come out of the darkness of self and into the light of our Savior.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ezekiel 8:12 [NLT] … 12 Then the Lord said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying, ‘The Lord doesn’t see us; he has deserted our land!’” 
… God reveals how His people were thinking that they could hide their dark sins from an all-knowing, all-seeing God.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ezekiel, Chapter 8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God shows the Prophet just how much the people were sinning against our Holy God and thinking that He would not see their sins.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … 22  The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. 
 … God’s mercy is new and available to anyone willing to receive it from God’s Spirit.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Ezekiel 36:26 [NLT] … 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 
… God’s mercy and grace have led Him to put a new heart into any of the remnant of believers who repent and come to receive that heart from The Messiah.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 5:8 [NLT] … 8  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
… God, our Heavenly Father, in His great mercy, sent His Son, to die for our sinfulness and to save us from our selves.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] … 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
... And because I have surrendered my self to my Savior as my Lord, He is making me into a new man in His image.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, used a word picture of children playing hide-n-seek to illustrate how we often think God doesn’t see our sin, which, of course, is absolute foolishness. The ODB author wrote: “You can’t see me!” 
When small children play “hide and seek,” they sometimes believe they’re hiding just by covering their eyes. If they can’t see you, they assume you can’t see them. 
Naïve as that may seem to adults, we sometimes do something similar with God. When we find ourselves desiring to do something we know is wrong, our tendency may be to shut God out as we willfully go our own way. 

Aw common! … Admit it, … along with me. We’ve all tried to play hide-n-seek with God, haven’t we, … trying to hide some kind of sin and somehow thinking that an all-knowing and all-seeing God doesn’t see our transgression? And is that not about as foolish as one can be?

Well, God’s people in the times of the Prophet Ezekiel were trying to keep their sin hidden in the darkness from God (see link to highlight passage); and most certainly God’s wrath would uncover their sin, just as our sin will ultimately ALWAYS show itself if we try to hide it.

But God, in His mercy [see Lam. 3:22-23] was willing to give mankind a “do-over!” And He has done so in the ultimate way by sending His Son to die on a cross and, with His blood, give us a chance to come out of the darkness. We no longer need try to hide our sins. No, … we can be touched with His saving grace [see Rom. 5:8 ], giving us a new heart and a new lease on life (see Ezek. 36:26 and 2Cor. 5:17).

The question becomes … are we willing to come out of hiding into THE LIGHT!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Shine Your light on me Lord that I cannot withhold any darkness from You, and so that You can let me walk in Your light always. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 17, 2017 … Served To Serve

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 321 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from Dennis Jernigan leading in worship and singing his song … Thank You Lord … poignantly worshipping God in song for all that our Lord has done for us … so that we, prayerfully, can thank others in Christlikeness by serving them.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Philippians 4:10-11 [NLT] … 10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 
… Paul was content for all God had done for him; but still expressed deep thankfulness for the help of other Christians.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Philippians 4:10-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul’s thankfulness to the Christians who supported him in ministry.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Mark 10:42-45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches 12 Disciples (and us) on having the attitude of a slave in service to others just as He came to serve us by giving His all for us.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:3-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul shows how we should humbly serve others as Jesus has humbly served us.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st Peter 5:5-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter teaches that Christlike humility is the key to being able to serve one another.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Cindy Hess Kaskper, made reference to a friend who discovered the humility to allow others to have God’s blessing as they served her needs The ODB author wrote: Marilyn had been ill for many weeks, and many people had encouraged her through this difficult time. How will I ever repay all their kindnesses? she worried. Then one day she read the words of a written prayer: “Pray that [others] will develop humility, allowing them not only to serve, but also to be served.” Marilyn suddenly realized there was no need to balance any scale, but just to be thankful and allow others to experience the joy of serving. 

When we’re in need of caring assistance, are you, like me, resistant and even embarrassed to have others do things for you? We can be so prideful in these moments, can’t we, … when we need others to serve us? And it even feels more uncomfortable when people serve our needs and we are fully capable of serving ourselves.

That’s what the Apostle Paul was addressing from a prison to fellow Christians in his letter to the generous help he received from his beloved friends in Philippi. As you read in the highlight passage above, Paul was content with where God had led him, even tho it was a prison. Yet he knew that his Christian friends would get a blessing for helping him; and he was humbled and thankful for their loving concern and especially for their sacrificial gifts.

We’re coming up on our THANKSGIVING and CHRISTMAS celebration time here in the USA; and I hope that we’ll have the attitude of Christ during this holiday season (see the reference scriptures) and be humbly thankful for all that others do for us. And prayerfully, I hope we’ll be able to turn that thankfulness into service for others in the future, receiving the blessing God pours out when we humble ourselves to serve others.

And may I say that I’m thankful for any who read my journaling here and sense the blessing I get for writing what God shares with me from His word and I’m able to share it here with you. I am SO BLESSED to be here daily, trying my best to reflect God’s truth which He gives to me to grow closer to Him and to reflect that blessing forward.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Thank You, Lord, for being here with me this morning … and for sharing Your truth with me so that I can reflect it for others. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 16, 2017 … Always There!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 320 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images from Don Moen leading in worship and singing … God Will Make A Way … poignantly singing of how we can always know that God will always be there for us … no matter how tough the circumstances.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 89-15 [NLT] … 15 Happy [i.e., joy filled] are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of Your presence, Lord. 
… In every moment - no matter what - we seek God’s presence, we will find joy.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 89:1-17[NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist reflects on the eternal presence of the Messiah in our lives.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Habakkuk 3:17-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet learned to choose joy even when things went bad.

Reference Passage [NLT] : …1st Corinthians 10:31 [NLT] … 31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 
… No matter where we are or what we’re doing, if we do it for God’s glory, we’ll find His joy.

Reference Passage [NLT] : …Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 
… Yes … ALL THINGS!!!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 4:11-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul learned to be content and to choose joy in all circumstances because he knew that his strength came from His relationship with Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Harold Myra, made reference to Brother Lawrence, who, as a monk in the 1600s, wrote about finding the presence of God at all times … in all circumstances. The ODB author wrote: The seventeenth-century monk Brother Lawrence, before a day’s work as cook in his community, would pray, “O my God . . . grant me your grace to stay in your presence. Help me in my labors. Possess all my affections.” As he worked, he kept talking to God, listening for His leading and dedicating his work to Him. Even when he was busiest, he would use intervals of relative calm to ask for His grace. No matter what was happening, he sought for and found a sense of his Maker’s love. 

I’m no brother Lawrence. And I’m certainly no Apostle Paul with his insights about God, …having contentment and confidence in God’s presence in all things (see reference scriptures). No, but I’m probably more like the Prophet Habakkuk who came to God confused and feeling distant from his God, … but pursued his God and found that he could find joy and God’s presence no matter how bad things got (see Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Yes, my fellow Christian, we need not despair anywhere/anytime; … because God has promised to ALWAYS be there with us and for us. And that’s what the Psalmist wrote about [see nightlight passages above] in seeking the Messiah even in the toughest times of life.

He’s there, my friends, … alway there; and God WILL make a way where there seems to be no way (see linked song).

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Thank You, Lord, for being here with me this morning … and every day. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 15, 2017 … Digging for God’s Treasures

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 319 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Kristyn Getty singing the song written by Keith Getty … Speak, O Lord … poignantly singing of how we who are in Christ can glean perfect truth as God speaks to us thru His word.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 11:13 [NLT] … 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
… Jesus assures His disciples that God, the Father, will ALWAYS have the best in mind for His children when they pray.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 11:1-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches His disciples more about the essence of prayer.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Job 28:1-2, 12-13, 23-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Job compares digging for wisdom (i.e., the mind of God) is like mining for precious jewels and fine gold.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 116:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We’re assured by God thru this song just how God ALWAYS hears our prayers.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 8:26-28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul assures his fellow Christians (us too) that God’s Spirit will help us pray and that ALL THINGS work together for our good, … no matter what!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul shows Timothy and us just how powerful is God’s word (now our Bible) to provide us with all we need to live out our lives for His glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, related a story about the great Bible teacher, Oswald Chambers and how he taught about prayer. The ODB author wrote: In October 1915, during World War I, Oswald Chambers arrived at Zeitoun Camp, a military training center near Cairo, Egypt, to serve as a YMCA chaplain to British Commonwealth soldiers. When he announced a weeknight religious service, 400 men packed the large YMCA hut to hear Chambers’s talk titled, “What Is the Good of Prayer?” Later, when he spoke individually with men who were trying to find God in the midst of war, Oswald often quoted Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” … 
 On November 15, 1917, Oswald Chambers died unexpectedly from a ruptured appendix. To honor him, a soldier led to faith in Christ by Oswald purchased a marble carving of a Bible with the message of Luke 11:13 on its open page and placed it beside his grave: “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” This amazing gift from God is available to each of us today. 

My discipline of a daily quiet-time with God began with Oswald Chambers’ famous devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest. And I have vivid memories of digging through God’s word and Chambers’ powerful imagery in showing his reader’s [me] just how God’s word was a love letter of truth for His children. And as the Apostle Paul described [see 2Tim. 3:16-17], giving all who dig for God’s truth in His word all we need to live our lives.

And that daily digging process in God’s word, with the help of Chambers’ devotional, was, for me, much like Job described mining for the mind of God (see Job 28 passages linked above). But that digging process, which continues daily, as evidenced by this daily journal (blog), has been a key to the treasure chest of God’s wisdom for me.

I pray God's word is as profitable and as good for you as Jesus described in Luke 11:13; and it is opening up the mind of God for you every day.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Thank You, Lord, for speaking to me every day thru Your word. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 14, 2017 … Walking Faithfully

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 318 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Steve Green singing … Find Us Faithful … poignantly singing of how we who are in Christ walk the walk of faith, worthy of our calling in Christ.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1John 3:1 [NLT] … 1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 
…Only those who are truly children of the living God will walk a walk worthy of our calling in Christ.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1John 3:1-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s faithful walk the walk of purity and righteousness.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Ephesians 4:1 [NLT] … 1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 
… God, thru Paul, calls us to walk the walk of worthiness to our calling in Christ.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 1:27a [NLT] … 27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. … 
… Again … God, thru Paul, calling Christians to sustain our walk of faith in Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Alyson Kieda, related a personal story to illustrate how, as children of God, we are drawn to His love and follow Him. The ODB author wrote: Recently, we took our twenty-two-month-old granddaughter, Moriah, overnight for the first time without her older brothers. We lavished lots of loving, undivided attention on her, and had fun doing the things she likes to do. The next day after dropping her off, we said our goodbyes and headed out the door. As we did, without a word Moriah grabbed her overnight bag (still sitting by the door) and began following us. 
The picture is etched in my memory: Moriah in her diaper and mismatched sandals ready to depart with Grandma and Grandpa again. Every time I think of it, I smile. She was eager to go with us, ready for more individualized time. 

And that kind of love we are drawn to by the love lavished on us by our Lord. And it is what draws the faithful to walk-a-walk worthy of our calling in Christ (see Eph. 4:1 and Phil. 1:27a). So, after one takes in the linked song and God’s word above, I don’t think I need to write much to emphasize where our walk needs to go!

No, it’s the walk of faith … down the road of purity and righteousness we are called by Jesus to walk, … following Him (see Luke 9:23 which I hope my readers know by heart by now!). That’s why I’m here every morning - to begin my walk of faithfulness - by setting my path in the right direction in God’s word. Come along - faithful reader - and follow me; … because I follow Him.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Thank You for shining Your light on my path that I may follow You today - and tomorrow. And help those reading here to stay faithfully on Your path … Amen.

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

November 13, 2017 … Giving Out His Grace

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 317 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from the group Unspoken singing their song … Call It Grace … poignantly singing of how we need to be giving out what God gives to us … “Call it grace!”

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Corinthians 8:7 [NLT] … 7 Since you excel in so many ways — in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us — I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 
…Since God has given us so much from His grace, we should be sharing that grace with others.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Corinthians 8:1-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Apostle relates how Christians should share God’s grace cheerfully and sacrificially. 
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Luke 6:38 [NLT] … 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” 
… Jesus presents God’s promise as to His return for our giving freely to help others.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2Corinthians 9:6-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul quotes from Prov. 22:8 and Ps. 112:9 as to God’s principles and promises with regard to giving … that primarily we reap what we sow when we give cheerfully and generously.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Sheridan Voysey, related a true story to illustrate how God’s people can share His grace in giving to others in need The ODB author wrote: Cheryl was in for a surprise as she pulled up to deliver her next pizza. Expecting to arrive at a home, she instead found herself outside a church. Cheryl confusedly carried the pepperoni pizza inside, where she was met by the pastor. 
“Is it fair to say life hasn’t been easy for you?” the pastor asked her. Cheryl agreed it hadn’t. With that, he brought out two offering plates that church members had filled with money. The pastor then poured over $750 into Cheryl’s delivery bag as a tip! [See photo] Unbeknownst to Cheryl, the pastor had asked the pizza shop to send their most financially strapped driver over. Cheryl was stunned. She could now pay some bills. 

And really that story relates so much about how God uses the cheerful and sacrificial giving of His people to share His grace with those who are in need. It is the same message the Apostle Paul shared with Christians in Corinth who were in the midst of a famine [see highlight passage]. But Paul pointed out how the Macedonian Christians, who were also in need, were willing to share as much as they could so generously with others. But are we getting God’s message … to overcome our natural selfishness and share His providence with others?

When Jesus was teaching His disciples (see Luke 6:38), He shared about how we can not out give God and how He will return to us His grace in the measure of what we’re willing to cheerfully and sacrificially give (see also 2Cor. 9:6-9).

So today - and prayerfully tomorrow - I’m going to be looking for opportunities to help others by giving my time, talent, and treasure in a way that reflects my Lord’s unlimited grace as He has given to us. Let’s pray we can overcome our selfish nature and give our first fruits to others in His Name and for His glory.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Show me clearly where I can give from what You’ve given me to help others in need. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.